German media stated that Chinese cargo ships are traveling to Europe via a new "shortcut" through the Arctic. On August 20, Deutsche Welle published an article claiming that the ongoing Middle East conflict and unstable political situations in South America are disrupting several key global shipping routes, threatening international trade flows. China is now carving out an alternative path—opening a faster and cheaper Arctic route to the UK. However, this route has also raised concerns about the accelerated melting of Arctic ice.
The so-called "Arctic Express" container service between China and Europe completed its first trial voyage on September 23, 2025. On August 15 this year, the regular weekly scheduled service officially commenced. This route departs from Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, takes the Northeast Passage through the Arctic, and directly reaches Felixstowe Port in the UK, with a one-way journey time of only 18–20 days—nearly halving the travel duration compared to over 40 days via the Suez Canal or more than 50 days by circumventing the Cape of Good Hope.
Against the backdrop of persistent disruptions in traditional Asia-Europe maritime routes due to the Red Sea crisis and rising risks to the Suez Canal—a vital artery of global trade—the Arctic route provides a crucial alternative logistics channel for China’s foreign trade. It enables us to hedge against shipping blockages caused by geopolitical conflicts, offering greater flexibility for our overseas trade. Western media, seeing China gain another "backup option," feel a mix of envy and discomfort.
The facts are clear: the Middle East conflict has affected European foreign trade routes; the Russia-Ukraine war has worsened Russia-Europe relations. With this new "ice highway," Europe can only watch helplessly. German media clearly exhibit sour-grapes mentality, claiming that "this route raises concerns about the accelerated melting of Arctic ice." In reality, if Europe itself were capable of utilizing this route, the issue of Arctic ice melting would likely not be a problem at all.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1874042208864522/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) alone.